There’s no doubt that the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong are a sore spot for China. They have a strong dictatorship and any Democratic ideas threaten their hold. That’s why they go out of their way to burn and destroy any symbols of free speech. They burn churches and shoot protestors. This is what’s going to lead the trade talks into being more awkward than usual.
If you didn’t know already, the Hong Kong protestors are looking towards America for support. They’re carrying American flags and want the same freedoms we enjoy. Obviously, the U.S. is in support of Democracy and the people of Hong Kong. It’s a discussion that must be had among diplomats and negotiators when everyone comes back to the table for trade talks.
The protests are now in their 17th week and don’t appear to be going away anytime soon. Images of previous protests that turned violent are in everyone’s memory. Now, we live in a very different time and China won’t be able to get away with using violence to stop the protests. Yet, new violence is erupting. A Chinese officer recently shot a protestor in the chest. He’s now in critical condition, fighting for his life.
Another issue China is dealing with is a collapsing economy. They are being heavily impacted by the trade war, more so than the U.S. Things in the U.S. have slowed down slightly, but in China, they are slowing down a lot. They are in a much more vulnerable position and ready to come to the table. President Trump can afford to hold out longer, but needs a bit of good news. Talk of impeachment are weighing heavy on the news cycle. Ending the trade war would bode well.
Ending the Trade War with China
So, how exactly would the protests in Hong Kong impact trade negotiations? Certainly, the U.S. isn’t going to leave them off the table. They’re going to want China to give in to their demands. Hong Kong is also an important international trading port for China. Whatever they offer is going to be dependent on how the protests play out.
“It probably will have some impact on the Chinese side, even despite whatever it has on ours, because this is a sign of domestic dissent within their community and Hong Kong is quite important for the international trading activities of China,” said Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross when discussing the protests on “Varney & Co.”
Whatever happens, it would appear as if China is ready to return to the negotiating table. The trade war is hurting their economy and they would rather get a deal done. Still, that doesn’t mean China isn’t willing to sit back and wait to see what happens with the election. Their hope is that Trump is voted out and they can go back to the status quo. More tariffs are coming if a deal isn’t made.
“At least for now, more tariffs are coming on the 15th of October and again in December, and some of the talk about the delisting of Chinese companies and less U.S. investment into China, that if anything, suggests to us that if the trade war is doing anything at the moment it is going to escalate rather than deescalate,” he said.
“The president has indicated he wants a complete deal,” Ross said.
